There’s a reason we list this trip. It’s a straight shot west on the Pennsylvania Turnpike to the Altoona/Bedford area, as a 36-hole affair. For one, Bedford Springs is not for the golfing feint of heart, so a warmup round at Iron Masters would be a good call. And don’t let the name fool you, as Iron Masters allows public access.

And second, the rates at Bedford Springs are not cheap. So play it after 3 p.m. inseason, when a zero comes off the price tag.

Iron Masters is a decent track, but Bedford Springs is the real attraction. It’s one of the few courses in the U.S. that boasts A.W. Tillinghast and Donald Ross as designers. It recently underwent a renovation that restored it to the original layout. It’s considered by many to be the best public access course in the state.

Head south on I-83, just over the state line, for one of Maryland’s best public courses. Pick a weekday and you’ll get on for less than $60.

Bring the A-game, however, as it’s no stroll through the park. Epler spoke highly of this one, and I concur, having discovered it by accident years ago on the back end of a 36-hole day. That was paired with The Bridges, in Abbottstown, about 20 miles away as the crow flies.

Another one Epler and I agree on, it ranks consistently as a top-10 public access facility in Pennsylvania. The best way to get there is to take the turnpike east to the Reading exit, and then travel east on Route 422 just past Pottstown.

Being that it’s getting closer to the upscale Philadelphia market, you might have to dig a little deeper into your pocket for this one. Wait until the afternoon on a weekend and it drops to under $50.

Two features that stand out —the remains of an old stone farmhouse that stands on the first hole, and the par-5 7th, which features one of the more unique aiming points on a tee shot you’ll ever see. A hint — the hole is called Tetons, and the Limerick Nuclear Power Plant is nearby.

A pair of high-quality Chester County tracks, accessible by Routes 283 and 30 past Lancaster. The former is a Gil Hanse design, the golf world architect du jour right now, while the latter plays over rolling treeless farmland, billing itself as an "inland Scottish links."

Wyncote is slightly more expensive, and it would be a tough squeeze to play both for under $100 on the weekend, so take off from work on a Friday for this one. Bonus points if you’re a mushroom fan, or at least can put up with the associated smell from the nearby farms.

Just off the northeast extension of the turnpike, but it’s best to check their website for details (www.lederachgolfclub.com). Rates under $60 are tough to come by on a weekend, but it bills itself as a Scottish links design, which is always fun. Of course, that’s not completely true as there are some modern wrinkles, like the occasional house.

The first green gives a hint as to what’s coming. Rumors that a Volkswagen was buried under the putting surface have yet to be proven.

This one could be paired with Raven’s Claw, as they’re only about five miles apart, but Hickory Valley boasts two courses, making for a perfect golfing day.

Named Presidential and Ambassador, the former is the better track, with corresponding (meaning higher) rates. Wait until after 11 a.m. and you can get both in on a weekend for less than $100. Of course that means you’ll want to go in June or July when sunlight is plentiful.

A pair of tracks boasting big name designers — Ernie Els for Whiskey Creek and Gary Player for Raspberry Falls. Both are easily accessible via Route 15.

Due to the names involved, this day could be a costly one. But enough specials are advertised (just $45 at Whiskey Creek after 4 p.m. on a weekend, so play it second on your way back north) that you could do both for less than $150.

The courses practically straddle the Delaware River. Easy to get to via I-78 and Route 22 through the Lehigh Valley.

Riverview is fully public. Although the front nine is a bit of a snoozer, the back nine features massive elevation changes, and some unique shots, on holes 11 through 15.

The Architects Club pays homage to golf’s best known course designers, as each hole features elements unique to a particular designer. Architects such as Tillinghast, MacDonald, Flynn and Raynor are name-checked. Donald Ross, however, reigns supreme with two holes built in his honor.

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